Sign for railway-cars, &amp;c.



F. P. MAIZE;

. SIGNIOR RAILWAY G-ABS, Gm.

APPLIoATIbiI FILED 11.22, 1919.

Patented May 9, 1911 2 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

F. P. MAIZE.

SIGN FOR RAILWAY CARS, 61:0, APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 22, 1910.

Patented May 9, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 21 STATES- PATENT OFFICE,

rm]: 2. ninzn, or NEWARK, new JERSEY.

'sxcm FQB narLwAY-cms, aw.

Specification of Letters Patent. Ifiitented May 9, 1911. i

'. n i eaami filed Iareh-Qt, l910.- Serial'iioQSSQMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. M. \izn,ojf

4 Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new.-

and useful Improvements in Signs for Railway-Cars, '&c. whereof the following a specification, reference being had' to the aceompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of signs in which an elongated flexible curtain eontaming a serles of names marked thereon, is mounted upon a pair of rollers,, by whose "rotation, in either direction, the curtain may bewound upon one roller, and unwound from the other, and the names may be suecessively displayed at a region intermediate between said rollers.

\Vhile the mostobvious application thereof is for use uponrailway'cars, in order to give notice of the approach of the respective stations or streets, and while I am about to describe an embodiment 'of the invention anism; to protect the curtain itself from deterioration by dust, moisture and'the like, whileailordingieasy access to the actuating and con rolling meehanismyandto provide means whereby the curtain, its casing and its actuating mechanism maybe interchange-- ably mounted within a suitable inc-losing receptacle, adapted to be readily applied to the required portion of a car structure In the accompanying drawings, Figure T, represents a to or'plau view of the int-losing receptacle, an Fig.'II, a rear view thereof,-

thescale of these fi ures beim 'one-half that; of the succeeding ures. g. III, represents a vertical longitudmalsection through the device and its rece )tacle on the line I] I,

III, of Fig. I'. Fig.1 is a transverse vertical section on the line IV-'IV of Figs. I and III, the direction ofview beingnd'if noted by thearrow at the section line; Fig.

- V is a transverse vertical section on the line V V ofF igQ III, the direction of: view beline'; Fig. VI, is a partial sectionalview,

showing the upper edge of one of the end plates of the casing. Figs. VII, and VIII,

relate to modified forms of' the actuating mechanism, the same being represented-1n each instance 'in vertical section, and upon a line corresponding to that of the section V IV, IV, in relation to the general structure.

I .will first describe the external inclosing receptacle adapted to contain the casing proper, which latter it will be understood is of an elongated rectangular form, adapted as will be hereinafter stated, to slide longitudinally within said receptacle.

The "receptacle is constructed of sheet metal, and comprises an elongated box 1, whose, front face and ends are of substantially rectangular form, its top, bottom and back being extended rearwardly in a double incline, as shown in the' plan 'viewiof Fig. I,

so as to'leave a clear space or chamber in the rear of the' casing proper, which is indicated by the dotted lines at 20, in Fig. I, The

front face of the receptacle is extended in a flange 3, IM'QJQCtllIg beyond the top and bottom andends, and affording a convenient- 7 means for securing the receptacle within an opening in a panel or wall of the car. A, rectangular opening 11, (sec dotted lines in- Fig. II),is formed in the front of the receptacle, opposite to that portion of the curtain which-is between the rollers,-in order to display the name upon said curtain, An

aperture 2, in the-top of the receptacle above the rearwardly extending chamber permits the insertion of an electric lightbul-b, or the employmei'it ofa lamp with chimney (conventionally indicated by. the dotted circle at 4), whereby the sign nay be. illuminated from the rear.

- one end of tlie casing is formed by means of a door 5, ghingedto the front at (3,a see- 'ond'door 7, being hinged to' the door 5, at

8, and closing against the strip 9, to which it may be detachably secured by screws or 4 otherwise. A slot 10, is forinedixr' the door- 7, to re,ceive the shaft-of the actuating crank (35, which will be hereafter described. A

portion 'of'the' rear wall adjacent, to saiddoor 7, is; also formed-bymeans of adoor 12, hinged to thetop, at 13, and having VThe casing proper 20, which" comprises the housing-for-t-he actuating and control spring retainin-gplips 14, mounted upon the V 'bottom'of the receptacle, whereby the dooir .12, is retained in closed position. 5 ing indicated by the arrow a't,the section tion' the gl ss through the plates'21,

\ tion of the clutch-hub below bci I ling-mechanism, and themeans of against dust 1s arran receptae e aid casiiig titssnugly} fin osition therein, the arrangement of ooursein'g'such that thenaine intended to be display oppo'siteto the openihg 11, 3vh1ch isin "the frcnt of the-receptacle a. lates T The houslng con'sists vof the'twoiend 2 1,1 and 22, which. ai eofrelatively -ea metal, intended to support" the actuating and controlling mechanism. The top and bottom plates, 23, and 24, respective y, are of li hter metal and arefsecured to horizonta flanges 25, upon said plates. A pair ing vertical flanges or ribs 26, (see Figs. near each vertical lates 21-, and 22, and form grooves to 'hol in posiplates 27, and 28', which con- .stitute' respectively the.

the casing 20. Inwardly and 30, are arranged near to each longi-j tudinal edge of the top and'bott'om plates 22, and 23,-anda-port1onof the edges beyond .said ribs is bent at main surface of the 'plate, so as to form inwardly extending flanges 31, and 32, at a geof the end short distance from said ribs 29, and 30,.

thus providing grooves whichlreceive the upper and lowerv edges of the glass plates 27, and 28. Packing strips 33, of felt are in-' serted in the'several grooves so as to emrendering the casing practically dust-proof and weather tight. C The flexible curtain 34, is mounted upon a pair of horizontal rollers 35, and36, whose journals 37, and 38,'r espect1vely protrude The shaft 37, of the upper roller 35, carries at one ,end a bevel gear 39, rigidly secured thereto, said gear engaging with. a corresponding bevel gear 40. The shaft- 38," of the lower roller 36, is similarly provided with a bevel gear 41, engaging with the corresponding bevel gear 42. The upper bevel gear 40, is provided with a rigidly attached and downwardly projecting sleeve, or hub 46, whose lower end is formed into a series of teeth 48, having inclined backs, so as to constitute one member of a clutch. Said clutchdxub is-journalcd in a brncket'4-7, extending laterally from the plate 22, the por what larger diameter than the journal portion, so as to resist upward thrust. The lower bevel gear 42,, is provided with a rigidly attached and upwardly extending sleeve or hub 49, whose upper end is formed into a series of teeth 50, with inclined backs, said teeth facing in a direction opposite to i thoseof the other clutch-hub. The gear' protection or moisture, is rectangular and ed'to slide longitudinally into the 1 1, through theopening which is gr'ovidedwith the folding doors- 5, and 7.

ed shall be front and backof extending ribs;. 29,. d

brace all the edges'of the glass plates, thus th and 22, at eachiend.

ng of so1nc-" 42, is also tending h u rick t 52. fa -9A- vertical; shaft extends thro'u h tl1e-hubs of the gears 40, and asrtobe capable both" 'tudinal movement, hubs, and their carries a pair rigidly attached" clutch .members 54, and 55, provided with teeth having inclinedbacks, and facin tion opposite to on e another-an site Vito. the teeth upon the clutch-hubs, to which; they are respectively. adjacent, and ,with which they are. intended to'respectivcly provided downwardly exfreely 42; S0 of rotative and lo ien go when proper position.

reason of the inclined teeth upon the clutch :gnovexnent'of one,'in a direction opposite to that ofpositive, e 'gagement with its fellow, will compel longitudinal shaft 45,

another, and hence if continued,

isengagement ofthe leeth from those of its fellow, .As, howeve g', the teethupon the clutch-hubs" apted to cause disen l n 5, are so spaced clutc ment takes placein either direction and is, attended'by the disengagement of-- one of e clutch-members from its clutch-hub, the accompanyin longitudinalmovement. of the shaft 45, wil h other clutch member into I to partiall engage with the teeth of its correlative clutch-hub before complete disengagement of .the first mentioned clutchcarries a bevel gear 56, which is secured thereto, so as to permit longitudinal movepin 60, is at said upper. extremity,"

as against slight jars 51', which is Tjournaled in the face m o posite directions, the" rotative movement a right angles to the gear "62, having a hori gwit-h; relation to said reipeetive Said shaft 0' i ,in'adiree also oppo-- baclrs of "the elements, rotative movement of the 1 as the-inclined backs ride upon onewill cause an i gagement of one= olutch member from vits correlative clutch-hub will tend- .to 'cause' 'ave shifted the-teeth of the a' position adapted member has been effected. The shaft 45."

12 -sion oipocket as shown,- so that when the rest in the pocket and be detained there or accidental move f'oft 61, "and has no tendency of itself to run ment, while it is readily removable therefrom in the '0 erative movements which will hereafter be es'cribed'.-

The'length and inclinationof the-slot 5.9,

i j 5 is 50- related to the'de th. of the clu'tcli teeth andthe inclination o the backs thereof, as

to act- .in correspondencewith the disengaglng movement 'of the teeth and to prolong the axialf iirection of saidmovernnt after a '10' d sen" agement has taken place, and -un til' comp ete' engagement-of the other set of teethfihas been efiected. Thus, assuming that the parts-'are in the positi'oh'shownfin Fi III, (that is to say, that the lower clutedi 1.5 member 54',' is in full'engagement with the clutcfh-liub 49,.while the upper clutch-monk her 55, is completely disengaged from the upper clutch-hub 46; if now the shaft 45, be, rotated from left to right, the teeth of the lower clutch-member will rideup on the x backs of the teeth 50,2of the'lower clutchhub,'and simultaneously with this action. the 'pin 60, -willf' ride u the wall -of the slot -59. i'The longitudina I movement-of the shaft- 45,,thusj occasioned, will bring the teeth upon f the upper cl-utch+member 55, into contact with the teeth 48, upon the upper-clutch member 46, butsaid I. teeth would not,fbythis movement alone, be thrown entirely home into the teeth oftheu p'er clutch-hub, since the-disengagement of the lower one occurs before-they have-reached Tsuch ex-,

- treme position. The slot 59, however, is prolonged to such an-extent that the continued 85;: ovement of theshaft-r'i, from left to right causes'the pin 60,-tor-ide upward to the fulllength voflthe slot, and the additional axial movement f thus effected, throws the teeth of. the upper clutch-member 55, home into the teeth 48, of the uppercluteh-hub. \Vhen the pin-60,*hasreached the upper extremity e slot59, it-rests within the pocket at 'glown the slot under the efieet of gravity. It will thus'be seen that rotativemovemerit of the hand-crank 65, in one direction will transmit movement from one clutchmember tothe operative gearing of one sign roller, and that rotation of said crank in Qthe opposite direction will firsteauseilisengementof. theclutch-member, whicli-ihas theretofore been operative, and will acause that the driving gearing of the-other sign roller will then be actuated. In'eitheij case, however, the-roller, which forthe time being is idle, would, if not-controlled, tend to run free, and hence might, by over-running, bring about a loose conditio'n of the flexible sign. To rev'ent this, I en'iploy a braking device, preierably arranged atthe opposite end of the casing from the driving system, said braking device comprising a pair of elastic strips 70, and 71', having curved surfaces 72, 73, 74. and 75, at their respective ends,

engagement offthe other clutch member, so"

which surfaces are adapted to einln'arehubs 76, and 77, rigidly mounted upon the protrudingends of the roller shafts 37, and 3S. Eaid strips 70, and. T1, are-preferably made of oak wood, which hassufljcient elasticity for the. purpose, and affords :the desired frictional contact. .In order to adjustxthe hubs, I provide a screw bolt and nut 78, \vherby they may be drawn together with the desired degree of pressure.

It will be noted that the actuating system for the rollers, and also thebraking devices therefor, are. mounted externally to the casing proper, so that they are readily accessiing,'etc. This feature I find to be very desirable in this class of devices, as there is no necessity for, -opening the 'incl'osure of the sign, the life of which is greatly prolonged by complete and efficient protection, especially as against dust.

1 of the actuating mechanism, the only difference, however, consisting in the substitution of an ordinary spur gear 80, for the bevel gear 56, just described, and the actuavertical counter-shaft 82, and provided with a crank handle 83, which, in this instance with, and the co sliding shaf unter-shaft for driving the 5,":1re omitted. In this inclutch' inembersfifi, and 97, is similar to that "-ju'st'described, but the vertical shaft 98, 4 (which corresponds-to the shaft 45, before descrihed),f-is directly. attached to the crank end thereof. part-sin this apparatus is that shown in'Fig. VIII, where by reason of gravity, the shaft r98,-and"i ts handle 99,al\vays tend to maintain thelower clutch-member 97, in contact pressure of said braking strips upon the In F ig. VII, I have shown a'inodification tionofsaid'gear- 80, by .means of afcorr'esponding spur. gear 81, mounted upon the fication of the.= device, in whichthe slotted hub 57, and pin intended to coiiperate therehandle -99,'which is arranged at the lower The normal position-of the .ble'for purposes of adjustment, repair, oilit-will be noted, extends verticallydown be- Ylow'the casing, instead of horizontally to' the rearthereof. As the; other elements in for use in instances where? the stance, the" rangement of the bevel gears 4 191', 92,"and- '93,';clutch hubs 94,an51 95, and

, with the clutch-hub'95, of-the lower gear. 1 Hence without the necessity for any longitudinal movement of the shaft 98, the lower a i gear of the up 901' roller is to be'actuated:

7 clutch h ub tion for engagement, when the shaft is r1,

tated from r ghtto left' in. said figure. YVhen, however, it is desired to rotate the upper gear 91, the" handle 9 9', is turned from left to right arid the teeth of the lower clutch-men'lber- 97, riding upon the inclined hub 95,

backs-"of the teeth upon the lower-clutch,

will without- 'conscious etfort on the" part 'of the operator, cause the shaft 98, to

1 move longitudinally. upward and throw the r teethof theupper clutch-member 96, into 'ptll'tlal engagement with the teeth of the v ilpperelutch-hub 94-. Disengagementof the '15 nat'ural tendency o'werclu tch-memberhaving occurred, I the on the part of the operator, is to prolong-the upward movement, and

-.th'us toioc'casion .-gagement of the. upper ,CilltCll-ll'lfllllbfll'. WVhen, however, released in this uppeiiposition, more downward under the grai'ity, and hence-it is toagain repeat the disengaging action at,

substantially complete entl'le'fishaft and handle are they; tend to influence of practically necessary the-lowerclutch-member, each time that the compared t 'erefore, with the forms at device shown in the other figures, this 'ir-' rangement. lacksthe capacity of remaining Y have hecnleft by the always. in the position which the -parts operator. Hence, I

' prefer the other and more complete embodi des'fe to include it bodiment gabove' described, .whal, may termed the camiaction of the slotted hub and pin, is su clined back'so {mentsfirst mentioned, but as-the last mentioned one may be found cllicient t general purposes, and as it com prises-cerhsjn features which arepeculiar to my inv ntion, I v I under certain of the claims hereinafter made. y y 1 {It willbe notedthat in the preferred emple'me ntal :to tha, of the inthe teeth; that is to say, during a portion ofthe longitudinal movement of the shaft,-:.the eam'eaction ofboth, progresses in unison, while upor. the. cessation of cam-actionof the teeth, that m the slot feature of the inclined venient .,clutch- I the dtiving'gear,' l)l1t do not i c v to iirnit said element to a hub, in the limited osensejof that term." u Having thus described my invention, I

'acla im: v a ,c

'The combination with sign rollers and. -:a-'-'flexiblesign wound thereon, of gears if however, that my I i tion set forth, irrespecti e ofthe adjunctive and pin cfnitinmis. "It must be' understood, lovent'lrn, comprises, the use of such a slot and p111 Lin the combina- .:cks of the teeth and is therefore not'nccessarily l't.$t!lCt0(l to such supplementary cl'iaracter.

' I emlOy-theterm clutch-hub, to conyfdesig'nate th-it member of each' whichis operatively .conrlected with thereby intend.

practically always in a condi- '-ga e-'sai first mentioned rs; clutch hu connected with 'said' riving gears, said hubs having teethfacing in opposite directions,=' and provided wit inclined carried by said shaftand provided with teeth' adapted'to 'en age respectively with the'elntch-hubs of t e' drivingvgears, said clutch-members beingso spaced upon said shaft that longitudinal movement of the shaft shall throw the member \uithin-the range of tho'seupon its correlative clutch-hub,- before the teeth of upon its correlative clutch-hub; and means 2. The combination, v a flexible sign wound thereon; of, .nounted' upon the shafts of said to with sign irollersi and {gears driving gears adapted to respectively engage said first mentioned nected with said drivinggeai's'said hubs having teeth facing in'opposite directions and provided with inc-lined backs"; a rdta'table shaft freely movablewith-relation to said huhs; clutch-members carried by said shaftand provided with teeth adapted to engage respectively with-theclutch-hubs of the drivinggears, said clutch-members bedlna'l movement of the'slaft shall throw the teeth of hue clutch-memberwithin the ran e of tl'iose upon its correlative hub before t e teeth of the other clutchmember have cleared those upon its-correlative clutchhub; a member mounted upon said shaft to with an inclined slotwhich extends through an arc ofgreater extent than the arc s ubtended by 'the inclined back of a tooth; apin rigidly mounted upon said shaft and projecting into said slot; and means. for rotating said slotted memberin ,eitherdireetion. -c :-'V

3., The combination, with sign rollers and mounted upon the shafts of said rollersgl driving. ears I adapted to v iespectively ,en.

bucks; a; rotatable shaft freely movable with relation to "said 11 hubs; and clutchnnembers' teeth of a one v clutchfor actuating said .shaft'in either diree'tion.

ing'so spaced upon said-shaft thatlongitw' a flexible sign wound thereon-p of gears rotativelyv in oppospaced shaft to. roh tetlierewith but movable there- I the other clutch-member have .c'learedthose gears; clutch-hubs conrotate therewith but movable tllere'on'in an axial du-ect1on.'sa1d member belng provided clutches-31 n member; 3

said member bejug provided'w'ith an inclined slot-adapted tojreeeive said in'and having an extent and pitch of 'i ncliliition' suflic'ient to shift. said in an axial direction;

s shaft axially intopositions of engagement agementthe - respective means for. rotating said slotted 4, The 'co'm bination; with rollersand .a flexible sign wound thereon; of bevel gears mounted upon the shafts of saidvrollers re-- spectively; driving gears adapted to respec- 9 ,teeth ada' tlvely en age said driving gears, said h'ubs having teeth facin in oppobucks; a rotatable shaft 'freely movable with relation tosaid hubs; a air of clutch-memcarried by said shaft ted to en age respectively with the clutch-bu of'the driving gears, said clutch- ;in'ernbersbein so spacedupon said shaft "that. longitud nal shall throw the teethwithin the range of those upon its correla' tive hub before the teeth of the other clutch which extends throu I first mentioned gears; 1 clutch-hi1 s connected. with said 15' site directions, andprovided wit w th sai -'n 1eans for rotating said counter-shaft. lncllned 4 and provided with movement of the shaft I,

of one clutch-member member have cleared those of its correlative clutch-hub; a gear and hub secured upon said shaft to rotate therewith,. but move freely thereon in an axial direction, said hub --being provided with an inclined slot, tent than the arc su tended by' the inclined back of a tooth; a pin mounted .in Said shaft and projecting into said "slot; a countershaft; a ear mountedthereon and meshing (i gear attached to the hub; and

hereunto at Newark, county of Esthis fourth day of March FRANK R; MAIZE.

In' testimony whereof, I have signed my name sex New Jersey 1910.

Witnesses:

H. G. LEWIS, Huoo Boarrna, Jr.

h an arc of greater ex- 

